All design entries will be eligible for awards in the following categories:

Kitchen of the Year

This category winner will have displayed overall exceptional design processes – Outstanding brief, design and concept, style, plans and specifications. This is the entry judged to be the overall ultimate winning entry from all valid kitchen entries. Based on the judges’ discretion and in accordance with NKBA/Certified Designers guidelines.

Creative Excellence

The WOW factor! Does the entry convey creative excellence? Does it have unique character? Does it show innovative use of product, design, lighting and colour co-ordination? The judges will be looking for the entry with the best overall creative design.

Visual Impact

The winner of this category is the entry judged to have used the most effective application of colour, textures, tiles and different finishes that provide visual impact.

People’s Choice

Entries will be collated and distributed to the Kitchen Studio network for voting. All members of the network can vote once only however Design Consultants should not vote for themselves and Franchise Owners should not vote for their own consultants. The entry with the highest number of votes will be the winner of our People’s Choice award.

Additional design categories
The following categories need to be specified upon entry:

First Time Entrant

You must tick and opt-in to be included in this category. It is open to designers who are entering for the first time.

Best Kitchen Design up to $25,000 (Incl GST)

You must tick and opt-in to be included in this category. The price must represent the entire value of the kitchen including GST, the materials, cabinetry and benchtop materials, manufacturing and installation but excluding appliances, and sub trades for example plumber, builder and electrician. Validation of costs must be provided either as a signed quotation or a copy of the final invoice costs, verified by a signed declaration. Please note that any kitchens or bathrooms that is the entrants own home or immediate family members home are excluded from this award category.

Creative Small Space Kitchen

Replaces Best Use of Small Space. You must tick and opt-in to be included in this category. Measurements must be taken from finished wall to wall and include island space if applicable. If the island or breakfast bar return has seating, then 700mm must be added to the room depth at this point. Kitchen size must not exceed 10m2. A room sketch with the measurements and calculations will need to be submitted.

Entries Must Include:

Completed online entry form
Must include client / contributor/s declaration form, be signed and dated.

Floor Plans, Elevations and Drawings

• Include between 3 and 6 floor plans, elevations and/or drawings.
• All plans and elevations must have no reference to the name of the designer or project.
• Floor plans and elevations must meet all aspects of good design practices and standards.
• All significant room dimensions and an indication of adjoining rooms must be shown.
• Relevant electrical and plumbing detail is to be shown on the plan.
• All working drawings, floor plans and elevations submitted must be completed by the entrant and be no smaller than 210mm x 297mm at 300 dpi.
• Maximum size is 20 MB per image.
• Acceptable files are JPG, TIFF and PDF.

Images

• Remember great photography is the secret to your success with your entry!
• Include between 3 and 6 photographs of the kitchen, no smaller than 210mm x 297mm at 300 dpi. Maximum size is 20 MB per image.
• Acceptable file types are JPG and TIFF.
• Your preferred main image of the kitchen must be identified.
• If possible, use a professional photographer with experience in this type of work.
• Images must be well lit and not exposed to the natural window light.
• Care should be taken with styling to ensure the best images for reproduction and publication.
• Both landscape and portrait images are acceptable.

Client Design Brief

• Summary clearly detailing the client’s needs, requirements and problems, and how these design challenges were overcome and met.
• Must be between 200–250 words and spell checked prior to submission.
• Include a title for your entry.
• Please supply in either doc or docx formats.

Product Specification List
All product specifications must be listed under the following categories:

• Cabinetry: brand, product name, colour, finish
• Benchtop: brand, product name, colour, finish
• Appliances: brand, product name, colour
• Hardware & Accessories: brand, product name, colour
• Maximum 160 words across all categories.
• Please supply in either doc or docx formats.

NB: Product codes and line numbers are not required. To be spell checked prior to submission.

Eligibility:

• Open to all Kitchen Studio Design Consultants, who have designed a kitchen between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2020 in a domestic dwelling within New Zealand.
• Family of the judges are not permitted to enter.
• Entrants are encouraged to attend the Kitchen Studio Conference.

Conditions of Entry:

• No late entries will be accepted, unless by arrangement with Kitchen Studio Support Office.
• The kitchen designs submitted into this competition must be the work of the Kitchen Studio Design Consultant entering.
• The design entry cannot have been previously entered into any other competition.

Ownership / Publication / Media:

• Entries, photos and entry boards become the property of Kitchen Studio Distribution and may be used for publication and display purposes. Entry boards will be returned to the entrant’s branch for display in the showroom.
• The design boards will be displayed at the annual conference.
• Following the Awards, the entries may be placed on the Kitchen Studio website, branch gallery pages, social media and may be used in local or national franchise collateral.
• Winner of the ‘Kitchen of the Year’ Award may be required to speak briefly on the Awards night and be available for photos and interviews at the Awards event or post awards, in support of any sponsors of the competition.

Judging:

• Judging is anonymous, entry names will not be disclosed to the judges at any time.
• Judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
• Judges may determine at their discretion, whether an award will be presented for each category.
• If you are considering entering into the NKBA Awards the NKBA have some additional rules you should be aware of.